November 19, 2024

China Unveils Design for Fully Reusable Heavy Rocket (Source: Xinhua)
China revealed a concept for a two-stage, fully reusable heavy rocket at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, showcasing different recovery methods for the two stages of the launch vehicle. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) announced that China's future heavy-lift rockets would adopt three configurations: a three-stage model, a two-stage model, and a two-stage fully reusable model, which is displayed at the airshow.

"We've developed a grid-based recovery system for the reusable model and achieved a breakthrough in this novel technology in the past two years by completing a scaled-down recovery test at sea," said Wang Yue, deputy director of the CALT's aerospace department. A CALT animated video shows the reusable rocket's first stage deploying grid fins during its descent and captured by moving rails on an offshore platform, with the grid fins resting on the rails. The second stage performs a powered vertical landing.

The reusable rocket design is pivotal for the nation's space endeavors and also offers new opportunities for the global development of the space industry, Wang said. The CALT plans to develop modules that can be used universally in all three configurations in two phases to achieve the heavy-lift carrying capacity and complete reuse of the heavy rocket. (11/17)

Starships and Space Policy (Source: Space Review)
The next Starship test flight will be very similar to the previous one last month. But, as Jeff Foust reports, it is taking place in a changed political environment that could see the next administration lean heavily on that vehicle for the Moon and perhaps Mars. Click here. (11/19)
 
The Woomera Manual on Military Law in Space (Source: Space Review)
The Woomera Manual is a document that outlines the rules that currently apply to national security activities in space. David Koplow describes the development of the manual and how it can be applied to issues that pose challenges to an incomplete legal regime in space. Click here. (11/19)
 
Blue Streak: Missile in Search of a Mission (Source: Space Review)
When the British government decided to cancel the Blue Streak missile in the early years of the Space Age, it looked for ways to repurpose that technology in launch vehicles. Trevor Williams discusses those efforts and the problems they encountered. Click here. (11/19)

ESA Provides More Funds to European Launcher Startups (Source: Space News)
ESA is providing more funding to four European launch startups. ESA announced Tuesday it was adding $46.7 million through its "Boost!" program to existing contracts with HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex and Rocket Factory Augsburg. The funding will help the companies with integrated testing activities for the small launch vehicles they are developing. (11/19)

ISAC Expands to Australia (Source: Space News)
The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) is expanding to Australia. The organization, which monitors threats to space systems, said a new "watch center" in Australia will enhance real-time threat intelligence gathering and defense against cyber attacks on space assets. The move reflects growing international concern about the security of space-based assets, which are increasingly critical to global communications, navigation and defense systems. (11/19)

SpaceX Launches Indian Comsat at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched an Indian communications satellite Monday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and successfully placed the GSAT-N2 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The spacecraft, also known as GSAT-20, will provide broadband services, including inflight connectivity, in India and the surrounding region. The 4,700-kilogram satellite launched on a Falcon 9 because it is too heavy for the largest current Indian launcher, the LVM3. (11/19)

Layoffs at Intuitive Machines (Source: Washington Business Journal)
Intuitive Machines plans to cut about three dozen jobs under a NASA contract at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The company confirmed it is planning to lay off about 35 employees who have been working there under a contract called OMES III run by Intuitive Machines and KBR, citing NASA's decision to end the OSAM-1 satellite servicing mission that had been part of the contract. NASA confirmed plans this summer to terminate OSAM-1, blaming cost and schedule overruns and changes in topics of interest in satellite servicing technology. (11/19)

USC Team Breaks Amateur Rocket Altitude Record (Source: USC)
A student group has broken the record for the highest amateur launch. The student-run USC Rocket Propulsion Lab launched its Aftershock II rocket last month from the Nevada desert, reaching a peak altitude of about 143 kilometers. That broke a record set in 2004 by the Civilian Space Exploration Team, an amateur group that launched a rocket to about 116 kilometers. The Aftershock II rocket came back to Earth under parachutes "largely intact," the leader of the USC team said, after flying at speeds as high as Mach 5.5. (11/19)

Turner to Lead Space Tech Development at NASA (Source: NASA)
The acting head of space technology at NASA will take the job permanently. NASA announced Monday that Clayton Turner will serve as the new associate administrator for space technology effective immediately. Turner had held the position on an acting basis since July, after the sudden departure of Kurt Vogel.  Turner was previously director of the Langley Research Center and has been at the agency for more than 30 years. (11/19)

Ligado Lawsuit Gets Green Light (Source: Breaking Defense)
A judge is allowing a lawsuit by Ligado against the federal government to proceed. A federal judge Monday allowed the suit to proceed after issuing rulings both in favor and against the company. Ligado is suing the Departments of Commerce and Defense for $39 billion for what it calls "unlawful actions" to seize its L-band spectrum. That spectrum was originally assigned for satellite communications, but Ligado is seeking to use it for a terrestrial network that the government argues would interfere with GPS signals. (11/19)

AeroVironment Seeks Lift From $4.1 Billion Deal for BlueHalo (Source: US News and World Report)
AeroVironment will buy space and defense engineering company BlueHalo in an all-stock deal valued at about $4.1 billion, the companies said on Tuesday, as the drone maker seeks to broaden its portfolio amid rising geopolitical tensions. The company's shares, up 56% this year, fell 3.6% in premarket trade.

AeroVironment, which makes the Switchblade loitering munition systems, will issue about 18.5 million shares to Arlington, Virginia-based BlueHalo as part of the deal. BlueHalo, majority owned by private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners, is a defense tech company that makes drone defense systems and laser communication technology used in space missions. (11/19)

Honeywell, ESA Partner to Enhance Satcom Security (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics)
Honeywell has partnered with the European Space Agency to develop the Quantum Key Distribution Satellite. The project, supported by the UK Space Agency, involves a multinational consortium and aims to protect sectors such as finance and critical infrastructure from data breaches. (11/18)

Kratos to Lead SDA Ground Infrastructure Program (Source: Defense Post)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has been awarded a $116.7 million contract to lead the development of Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure for the US Space Development Agency. The project will integrate space and ground assets for modern fire control strategies, manage cloud environments and test prototypes for monitoring hypersonic missiles. (11/18)